Guidewire and medical device including laser cut tube

Abstract

A guidewire device includes an elongate core wire and a tube member over the distal section of the elongate core wire. The tube member comprises a plurality of transverse cuts at a plurality of axial locations of the tube member, forming a plurality of circumferentially extending rings joined by a plurality of beams. The plurality of transverse cuts comprises a tapered geometry with a cut width at the outer surface of the tube member being greater than a cut width at the inner surface of the tube member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A guidewire device comprising:
 an elongate core wire extending between a proximal section and a distal section; and   a tube member over the distal section of the elongate core wire, the tube member having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein   the tube member comprises a plurality of transverse cuts at a plurality of axial locations of the tube member, forming a plurality of circumferentially extending rings joined by a plurality of beams, wherein the plurality of transverse cuts comprises a tapered geometry with a cut width at the outer surface of the tube member being greater than a cut width at the inner surface of the tube member,   the tapered geometry of at least one of the plurality of transverse cuts comprises a taper angle (X) ranging from 8 degrees to 25 degrees, and   the tapered geometry of at least one of the plurality of transverse cuts forms chamfered inside faces of a pair of circumferentially extending rings adjacent to the at least one of the plurality of transverse cuts, wherein the chamfered inside faces meet flush when the tube member bends at an angle.   
     
     
         2 . The guidewire device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the tapered geometry of at least one of the plurality of transverse cuts comprises the taper angle (X) that satisfies the following equation:   
       
         
           
             
               X 
               = 
               
                 2 
                 ⁢ 
                     
                 
                   arcsin 
                      
                   [ 
                   
                     
                       ( 
                       
                         c 
                         / 
                         2 
                       
                       ) 
                     
                     / 
                     
                       ( 
                       
                         r 
                         - 
                         
                           b 
                           / 
                           2 
                         
                       
                       ) 
                     
                   
                   ] 
                 
               
             
           
         
         wherein c represents the cut width of the at least one of the plurality of the transverse cuts at the inner surface, r represents an inner radius of the tube member, and b represents a beam height of a beam adjacent to the at least one of the plurality of the transverse cuts. 
       
     
     
         3 . The guidewire device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the cut width at the inner surface of the tube member ranges between 10 microns and 30 microns.   
     
     
         4 . The guidewire device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the cut width at the outer surface of the tube member ranges between 15 microns and 47 microns.   
     
     
         5 . The guidewire device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the cut width at the outer surface of the tube member ranges between 15 microns and 25 microns.   
     
     
         6 . The guidewire device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the plurality of transverse cuts extend in a plane substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tube member.   
     
     
         7 . The guidewire device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the plurality of transverse cuts comprise a one-beam cut pattern.   
     
     
         8 . The guidewire device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the plurality of transverse cuts comprise a two-beam cut pattern.   
     
     
         9 . The guidewire device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the plurality of transverse cuts comprise a three-beam cut pattern.   
     
     
         10 . The guidewire device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the tube member comprises a metallic tube.   
     
     
         11 . The guidewire device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the tube member comprises a polymeric tube.   
     
     
         12 . The guidewire device of  claim 1 , further comprising a radiopaque coil between the tube member and the elongate core wire.